The Video Music Awards took place in New York on Monday.

Camila Cabello’s Havana was nominated at the Video Music Awards (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)Cardi B opened the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards in New York (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)Jennifer Lopez won the Video Vanguard award at the MTV Video Music Awards (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)Camila Cabello accepts the award for artist of the year at the MTV Video Music Awards (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)Madonna paid an emotional tribute to Aretha Franklin at the Video Music Awards (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)2018 MTV Video Music Awards – Photo Room – Radio City Music Hall, New York, U.S., August 20, 2018. – Madonna poses backstage. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri2018 MTV Video Music Awards – Photo Room – Radio City Music Hall, New York, U.S., August 20, 2018. – Madonna poses backstage. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri2018 MTV Video Music Awards – Photo Room – Radio City Music Hall, New York, U.S., August 20, 2018. – Madonna poses backstage. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri2018 MTV Video Music Awards – Show – Radio City Music Hall, New York, U.S., August 20, 2018 – Madonna speaks during a tribute to the late singer Aretha Franklin. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson2018 MTV Video Music Awards – Photo Room – Radio City Music Hall, New York, U.S., August 20, 2018. – Madonna poses backstage. REUTERS/Carlo AllegriKylie Jenner accompanied Travis Scott to the Video Music Awards (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)Jennifer Lopez arrived at the Video Music Awards with her partner Alex Rodriguez (Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)Cardi B opened the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande arrived at the VMAs together (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)Blake Lively was one of the hosts of the MTV Video Music Awards (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)Winnie Harlow attended the MTV Video Music Awards in New York (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande kissed as they arrived at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York (Agostini/Invision/AP)Amber Rose arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Madonna paid tribute to Aretha Franklin at the MTV Video Music Awards and described her as “one of the greatest soul singers that ever lived”.

Some of the biggest names in music gathered in New York on Monday for the annual awards show that saw performances from Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez.

Organisers had promised a tribute to revered soul singer Franklin, who died aged 76 on August 16, and megastar Madonna took to the stage and delivered a powerful eulogy.

She told the audience it was a performance of one of her songs that launched her career.

People are upset about Madonna’s Aretha Franklin tribute at the VMA’s ‘cos it was basically all about her and not Aretha. Whatchu think? Here’s a snippet

She said she was living in Detroit with “35 dollars in my pocket” and was repeatedly being rejected from auditions for “not being pretty enough”. Then, during an audition as a backing dancer for a French disco performer, she decided to sing Franklin’s (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.

This led to her going to Paris and acted as a launchpad for her career. She said, “none of this would have happened, could have happened without our lady of soul”.

Madonna added: “Thank you Aretha for empowering all of us. Our R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Long live the queen.”